Trump Intensifies Campaign to Influence 2026 Elections, Sparking Alarm Among Election Officials

• Trump Pressures Electoral System
• Officials Reject Presidential Decree
• Fears of Election Interference

According to CNN, President Donald Trump and his allies have launched a coordinated offensive to influence the 2026 legislative elections, raising alarms among election officials nationwide.

In Colorado, several Republican election officials reported receiving calls and messages from consultant Jeff Small, who claimed to be acting on behalf of the federal government.

Small said he was coordinating with Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff at the White House, and the Department of Justice to implement an executive order signed by Trump on “electoral integrity.”

According to the officials, Small asked them to allow third parties to access their election equipment, which they firmly rejected.

Officials Reject Attempted Access

Trump and his allies launch a pressure campaign against U.S. elections ahead of the midterms https://t.co/HoJsiPWKQr

— CNN en Español (@CNNEE) August 3, 2025

“You’re not even going to breathe near my equipment,” replied Carly Koppes, Weld County’s election clerk.

The Trump administration has denied that Small acted on its behalf and officially disavowed him.

Despite the disavowal, the president’s campaign is advancing on multiple fronts, collecting voter data and pushing for regulatory changes.

Trump signed an executive order in March requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote and aiming to limit mail-in voting.

Justice Department and States at Odds

Several federal courts blocked provisions of the order, noting that election regulation falls under the authority of states and Congress.

The Department of Justice, under White House orders, has asked more than a dozen states to provide voter lists and procedures for purging voter rolls.

These federal requests have been met with suspicion, especially in states Trump lost in 2020.

In Colorado, Secretary of State Jena Griswold refused to hand over 2020 election documents, citing a lack of legal basis.

Redistricting and the SAVE Act

This comes alongside early redistricting efforts in Texas, driven by Republicans after Trump’s encouragement.

A new map proposed by legislators aims to seize five more seats from Democrats, consolidating GOP control over 30 of 38 districts.

Additionally, the House of Representatives passed the SAVE Act, which penalizes voter registration without proof of citizenship.

Critics warn these measures could disenfranchise legitimate citizens who lack updated documentation.

Trump Under Scrutiny Before 2026 Elections

Trump himself has urged other Republican-led states to follow Texas’s example, which could trigger a nationwide redistricting battle.

The offensive has stoked fears among election officials, many of whom have been targets of harassment since 2020.

According to a Brennan Center for Justice survey, 59% of local officials fear political interference in their work.

And 46% fear being investigated for partisan reasons simply for doing their jobs.

Colorado and the Fight Over the System

In Colorado, tensions escalated after the case of Tina Peters, a former official who illegally accessed voting machines in 2021.

Peters was sentenced to nine years in prison but has been defended by Trump as an “innocent political prisoner.”

The president even ordered the Department of Justice to review her case and seek her release.

Trump’s defense of Peters is part of a broader effort to undermine the current electoral system.